STOLEN GUNS FOUND IN STORAGE UNIT

JESSE HAMILTON; Courant Staff WriterTHE HARTFORD COURANT

Because a Vernon man didn't pay his storage unit rent, a Vermont firearm theft may have been solved.

State police charged Jason Daniels, 20, of 12 Ironwood Drive, with fourth-degree larceny and criminal possession of two firearms Monday after the weapons were found in Daniels' unit at Attic Self Storage, 65 Windemere Ave., Ellington.

The firearms were stolen in a burglary at the Wardsboro Country Store in Vermont, according to the Connecticut State Police special licensing and firearms unit.

Duane Jones, the owner of the self-storage units, said the rent was due on Daniels' unit and he opened it in preparation of auctioning the contents. He spotted a rifle, he said, so he called the police to find out whether it was all right to sell.

As police checked on it, Daniels came in Monday morning to pay Jones his back rent. He promised Jones he would be back in the afternoon to empty the unit.

Meanwhile, police discovered that the firearms were stolen, so troopers waited for Daniels' return. He arrived with his girlfriend.

"They actually came down to move the stuff out," Jones said. "They were arrested."

Because Daniels was a convicted felon, he was charged with illegal possession as well as the larceny.